Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Cafe, Dian Shui Lou (Part 4)

This is the 2nd last day of our trip which is pretty much a shopping day to grab whatever we want before we depart tomorrow.  I shall just blog about the 2 meals (tea and dinner) we had on that day since we were busy shopping there isn't any photos taken for our shopping spree.

This is a much talk about theme restaurant in Taipei where most will visit, during my 2 hours stay there there were at least 2 tables who are Singaporeans.  Yes, its the Hello Kitty Cafe.  To get there take a MRT to Zhong Xiao Fu Xin (忠孝复兴) Station exit from exit 3 walk towards Da An road yi dian(大安路一段) turn right and walk straight all the way until you see the cafe on your right.

Note the minimum spending per person to dine there, but with the price they sale their cakes at its not difficult to hit the minimum spending.

Some deco at the entrance.  We were brought to the 2nd level.

This is the 2nd level.  I find that the 1st level have more classy feel compared to the 2nd level, just there at level 1 there will be alot of people walking past and standing around while waiting for a table.

Everything here is very 'Hello Kitty', I didn't take much photos as I am not a fan, just looking forward to my food.

This is the Hello Kitty Egg Pudding which comes which each cake set ordered.

I like everything chocolate so here's my chocolate cookie smoothie (not part of the set) - TWD 230.

Kitty Golden Chocolate Cake Set - TWD 380, it is a very thick chocolaty tart which I like.  However the 'macaroon' at the side is not a macaroon its just made to look like one (either that or the chef totally use the wrong recipe).

A close up of the golden kitty, it just a chocolate kitty.

Strawberry bubble milk tea - TWD 230.

The Kitty Orea Cheese Pie - TWD 300.  Its like a cheese pie sandwiched with Orea, find it so-so only.

Its really just to immerse in the hello kitty theme here (not for me though), the food is just average.

For dinner we went to dian shui lou (點水楼), this is another famous joint in Taiwan selling Xiao Long Bao (小笼包) similar to Ding Tai Feng (鼎泰丰).

We went to the branch at Sogo Fuxing Store, it is located very near to the Zhong Xiao Fuxing station.  The thing we didn't like about this store is that they also sell the smelly beancurd (臭豆腐) but you can request to seat further from the kitchen and it shouldn't be much of a problem.  The xiao long bao here is also highly rated.

I find the taste and texture of the xiao long bao (TWD 170 for 5 pieces) to be comparable to that of Ding Tai Feng and couldn't really say who is the winner, again it isn't so good that I will keep craving for it (have yet to find that xiao long bao).

We will always order liu sha bao(流沙包 - TWD 135 for 3 pieces) at chinese restaurant if they are available and its no exception here.  The texture of the bun is ok and the gravy also flows nicely but the taste of the liu sha doesn't give the oommm feeling, it is a bit blend.

This is the Noodle Soup with Stew Pork Hoofs in rich brown sauce (红烧猪脚面 - TWD 280).  The noodles is just of the right texture, crunchy and not too tough.  The meat from the pig's trotter is soft and melts in your mouth, proportion of the skin (full of collagen) and meat is just right.  Highly recommended.

My usual craving for marinated chicken in chinese wine (绍兴酒醉鸡).  The taste is good but the meat is still not tender enough, could be better.

It is the hairy crab (大闸蟹 － TWD1200) season, so how can we not order it.  The staff is also very professional in 'dissecting' the hairy crab for our consumption.  I still could not appreciate the hairy crab as there is so little meat and I am not a fan of crab roe, guess I am more suitable to eat Sri Lanka crab.

Overall it is a much satisfying dinner, our last one for the trip and back to Singapore the next day.

Location:
Hello Kitty Sweets
台北市大安路一段90號
Tel: 02-2711-1132

點水楼
台北市大安區忠孝東路 3段300號 11樓
Tel: 02-8772-5089

Taipei (Other Parts):

Part 1: Taipei, Taiwan: Taoyuan Airport, Wu Fen Pu and Raohe Night Market (Part 1)
Part 2: Taipei, Taiwan: Ding Tai Feng, Ximending, Barbie Cafe, Shilin (Part 2)
Part 3: Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring, Bei Tou, Dan Shui, Yu Ren Ma Tou, Aranzi Cafe, Wu Lao Guo (Part 3)
Part 5: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Gate, Silver Kris Lounge (Finale)

Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring, Bei Tou, Dan Shui, Yu Ren Ma Tou, Aranzi Cafe, Wu Lao Guo (Part 3)

Today we head to Beitou(北投) for the hot spring.  We chose the hot spring based the review online as well as the stars of the hotel offering the hot spring.  The result is the Grand View Resort Beitou (北投丽喜温泉酒店).  They offer a free shutter service from Beitou(北投) station to the hotel, it is just a 5-8mins ride.

The hotel does have a very atas (aka grand) feel on top of a mountain overlooking the greeneries.  We head to the reception to check in to the room for our hot spring.  They only have 8 rooms catered for non-hotel guest so do book in advance if you intend to head there especially on weekends.  We chose the biggest room to pamper ourselves.

This is the Li Chi (麗池), costing NT$3,200.  The time given for the choice of the Li Chi is 120minutes.  There is a living area, a small pantry behind the tv partition, a huge cupboard beside the pantry and of course the hot spring tub with bathroom and toilet.

Remember not to fill the whole tub with spring water as it is scorching hot.

I was very disappointed with the hot spring, with such a atas place and high price tag I am expecting a hot spring tub overlooking the nature from the top of the mountain.  However all the 6 rooms are actually facing a road outside the lobby of the hotel and you are often disrupted by the buses and cars passing by; a total turn off.

10mins before the time is up we got a call from the reception that we have only 10 mins left.  We left the hotel on their free shuttle bus to 新北投 station.  

It time for lunch, we headed to a shop recommended by shi shang wan jia (食尚玩家) for their famous beef noodles.

We ordered a bowl of beef noodles and a bowl of sesame oil chicken noodles.  The chicken noodles taste very good, the portion of chicken is pretty generous, the broth is very rich in taste and noodles with the right texture not too soggy nor tough.  My partner said that the beef noodles is quite good but not the best she had tasted.  After filling our stomach we head to shop at dan shui(淡水), not many photos taken here.  

We bought the usual dan shui tie dan as well as the famous yu shu(鱼酥) recommended by the locals.  How can we not visit yu ren ma tou(渔人码头) when we are at dan shui so we took a boat there.  There is a family in front of us who bargain for TWD100 per person for a return trip so we got the same deal.

It is a good location to take pictures of the sunset but the last boat is at 7:30pm hence we left after a short stroll and some pictures taking.  Come earlier if you intend to shop around the area and have a drink while watching the sun set.

After taking the boat back to dan shui we decided to head back to Zhong Shan station  We had made a booking at bu lao guo(无老锅) for dinner and there is still some time hence we shop around at Xin Guang San Yue(新光三越). 

We came across this interesting café called Aranzi Café with some interesting looking cakes.

We ordered 2 cakes to share (坏东西双色浓巧克蛋糕 and 熊猫哥巧克力蛋糕), both at TWD180 each.  They taste normal but the design and how they put it on matching plates is pretty interesting.

The other design of cakes they serve.

Finally heading to the highly recommended steamboat place(无老锅) by the local.

We had a choice of 2 types of soup base and yuan yang.  We chose the non-spicy soup base.  The soup base is very good and with lots of ingredients in it.

They are also very thoughtful to provide 4 bottles of soup base on the table so we can add as and when we require without waiting for the waiter/waitress.

Egg Dumplings (蛋饺) － TWD280

 Boneless Chicken (鸡肉) - TWD 188

You Tiao (油条) - TWD 60

Signature Pork (无老肉)－TWD328

Escalope of shoulder butt (小麦梅花香猪肉)  － TWD 280

Squid(墨鱼片) - TWD 188

The meat are all very fresh and good.  However I find the squid a bit tough.  Overall a very satisfying dinner, highly recommended, do remember to make a booking way in advance as chances are low for walk-in unless very late into the night.

We took a cab back to hotel and call it a day.

Location:

Grand View Beitou Resort

北投麗禧溫泉酒店

112台北市北投區幽雅路30號

Tel:  02-2898-8888 

栗家牛肉麵

北投區永興路一段二號

Tel: 02-2893-7803

淡水阿婆铁蛋

台北市淡水镇中正路135号之一

Tel: 02-2625-1625

许義鱼酥

台北縣淡水鎮中正路184號

Tel: 02-2621-1414

Aranzi Cafe阿朗基咖啡 (新光三越百貨南西店二館)

台北市中山區南京西路14號4樓

Tel：02-25224608

無老鍋

北市市民大道三段143號

Tel: 02-2731-7927

Taipei (Other Parts):

Part 1: Taipei, Taiwan: Taoyuan Airport, Wu Fen Pu and Raohe Night Market (Part 1)
Part 2: Taipei, Taiwan: Ding Tai Feng, Ximending, Barbie Cafe, Shilin (Part 2)
Part 4: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Cafe, Dian Shui Lou (Part 4)
Part 5: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Gate, Silver Kris Lounge (Finale)

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